• 6 min read
• July 1, 2025

At first glance, a Starbucks® store might seem like just another cozy corner to enjoy your favorite brew. But across Asia, many Starbucks® locations are steeped in rich, local history—housed in spaces that once served as a fish market, cinema, ancestral home, textile mill, and even century-old townhouse. From the bustling streets of Kampot to the serene slopes of Kyoto, these stores have been thoughtfully restored to preserve their cultural essence while offering a modern coffeehouse experience. Here’s a journey through some of the most captivating transformations across the region.

Starbucks Cambodia: Fish Market to Starbucks Experience in Kampot

Housed in a historic building that once served as a bustling fish market in the 1930s, Starbucks® Kampot beautifully blends modern design with local heritage. The store’s architecture preserves traditional elements while introducing contemporary touches, creating a space that feels both familiar and fresh. Inside, wooden accents and lush greenery echo Kampot’s natural beauty, while a striking mural by local artists features the iconic Siren swimming through Kampot’s waters—symbolizing the harmonious fusion of the global brand and local culture.

Starbucks China: Brewing a New Chapter in a Historic Bank in Tianjin

In the heart of Tianjin, the Starbucks Reserve™ at Riverside 66 is more than just a coffeehouse—it’s a time capsule. Housed in a Renaissance-style building constructed in 1921, this flagship store once served as a bank. Over the decades, it transformed into a tailor shop and later a foreign trade mall before falling into disuse. Starbucks® took on the challenge of restoring this heritage site, preserving its original architecture while infusing it with modern design and coffee culture

Starbucks Indonesia: From Silver Screens to Coffee Beans in Jakarta

Located in Jakarta’s historic Cikini district, the Starbucks Reserve™ Metropole is more than just a coffeehouse—it’s a living chapter of Indonesia’s cinematic and architectural heritage. Before the aroma of freshly brewed espresso filled the air, the building that now houses Starbucks Reserve™ Metropole was known as Bioscoop Metropool, a grand cinema constructed in 1932 during the Dutch colonial era. Today, the Starbucks Reserve™ Metropole honors that legacy. Located on the ground floor of the historic Metropole complex, the interior design pays homage to the building’s theatrical roots with golden light installations inspired by wayang, Indonesia’s traditional shadow puppetry—a nod to the storytelling that once lit up the silver screen.

Starbucks India: A Textile Legacy Reimagined in Coimbatore

In Coimbatore, Starbucks® found a home in the Lakshmi Mills compound, a site steeped in the legacy of one of India’s oldest textile companies. The store’s design pays homage to the city’s industrial roots, blending traditional motifs with modern aesthetics. It’s a beautiful example of adaptive reuse, where the hum of looms has given way to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee

Starbucks Japan: A Sip of History in Century-Old Townhouse in Kyoto

Starbucks® Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya store is located along Ninenzaka, a historic stone-paved slope that leads to the UNESCO World Heritage site Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Housed in a traditional two-story Japanese townhouse that is over a century old, the store is surrounded by a streetscape that retains the atmosphere of the Taisho era and reflects the rich history and culture of Kyoto.

In creating this unique location, Starbucks® paid deep respect to the building’s historic architecture and the local community. Much of the original structure was carefully preserved, resulting in a space that seamlessly blends Kyoto’s cultural and architectural traditions with Starbucks’ modern coffeehouse experience. It’s a place where history and hospitality meet—inviting guests to savor both the past and the present

Starbucks Korea: A Century-Old Hanok Reimagined in Daegu

Nestled in the heart of Daegu’s historic commercial district, the Starbucks® Daegu Jongro Gotaek store is housed in a beautifully restored hanok, a traditional Korean home built in 1919 . Once a private residence, this wooden structure now welcomes guests into a serene space where the scent of coffee mingles with the whispers of the past.

The store preserves original features like wooden beams, tiled roofs, and traditional flooring. It also features a high-end music listening area, paying homage to Daegu’s legacy as the birthplace of Korea’s classical music appreciation rooms.

Starbucks Philippines: From Ancestral Home to Coffee Haven in Vigan

Tucked within the historic heart of Vigan City, the Starbucks® Balay Mestizo Vigan holds a secret past. Before it welcomed coffee lovers, the building was known as the Florendo House, constructed in 1870 during the Spanish colonial era. This ancestral home, with its elegant windows and sturdy adobe walls, once belonged to a prominent local family and stood witness to generations of cultural transformation. Located on a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the store today blends heritage and modernity—offering not just handcrafted beverages, but also a rare glimpse into the architectural soul of old Vigan. It’s a place where every sip of coffee is steeped in history.

Starbucks Singapore: Shophouse to Showcase of Culture in Chinatown

The Starbucks® store at 37 Smith Street is a vibrant blend of heritage and modernity in the heart of Chinatown. It marks a milestone as Singapore’s first Starbucks® store to be housed in a heritage shophouse. The store thoughtfully weaves together the rich cultural tapestry of Chinatown with contemporary design elements, offering customers a uniquely immersive experience that celebrates tradition while embracing the present.

Starbucks Taiwan: From Cargo to Culture in Hualien

In Hualien, Starbucks® took a bold leap into the future with Asia’s first container store, designed by a renowned Japanese architect. Built from 29 recycled shipping containers sourced from 20 ports around the world, the structure resembles a tree with sprawling branches—symbolizing growth, sustainability, and rebirth. The design blends modern sustainability with traditional Chinese architectural elements, creating a space that’s both innovative and deeply rooted in place.

A Sip of the Past, A Taste of the Present

These Starbucks® stores are more than just places to grab a drink—they’re living stories. Each one reflects the spirit of its community, preserving the past while embracing the future. So next time you step into a Starbucks® in Asia Pacific, take a moment to look around. You might just be standing in a piece of history.